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Salary comparison

Plasterers and Stucco Masons vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?

Plasterers and Stucco Masons out-earn Construction Laborers by $11K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plasterers and Stucco Masons land at $57,660 and Construction Laborers at $47,120. The education gap is real: plasterers and stucco mason programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while construction laborer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Plasterers and Stucco Masons is New York ($120,180); for Construction Laborers it's Hawaii ($77,110).

Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Construction Laborers
Median salary
$57,660
$47,120
Hourly rate
$27.72/hr
$22.66/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$39,560
$35,090
Senior level (90th %)
$96,710
$78,090
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
19,310
1,096,780
Job growth (10-year)
4.1%
7.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
New York
Hawaii

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Plasterers and Stucco Masons median pay.

State
Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Construction Laborers
New York
$120,180
$55,930
Hawaii
$104,260
$77,110
Minnesota
$102,530
$60,260
Illinois
$93,790
$60,690
New Hampshire
$93,000
$49,980
Missouri
$79,380
$56,730
Michigan
$72,990
$49,590
Oregon
$71,180
$50,860
New Jersey
$69,990
$64,060
Ohio
$62,200
$56,080
California
$59,940
$60,270
Indiana
$53,930
$50,070
Washington
$51,840
$57,720
Wisconsin
$50,700
$56,100
Montana
$46,540
$49,830

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Plasterers and Stucco Masons or Construction Laborers?

Plasterers and Stucco Masons earn more nationally. The median is $57,660 for Plasterers and Stucco Masons versus $47,120 for Construction Laborers, a difference of $11K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Plasterers and Stucco Masons or Construction Laborers?

Construction Laborers has the better 10-year outlook at 7.3% projected growth, compared to 4.1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Plasterers and Stucco Masons or Construction Laborers?

Plasterers and Stucco Masons typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Construction Laborers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Plasterers and Stucco Masons get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Plasterers and Stucco Masons at $120,180/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Plasterers and Stucco Masons vs. Construction Laborers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Plasterers and Stucco Masons earn $120,180 vs. $55,930 for Construction Laborers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Plasterers and Stucco Masons salary breakdownView →Full Construction Laborers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Plasterers and Stucco Masons by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Construction Laborers by take-home payExplore →How to become a plasterers and stucco masonsGuide →How to become a construction laborersGuide →